Thank God! he showed no signs of defeat! "Oh," cried Mathilde, jumping up, "I thought Mr.Farron had gone down-town ages ago." "He overslept," said Adelaide.
"I had an excellent night," he answered, and she knew he looked at her to discover that she had not.
"I'll go," said Mathilde; but with unusual sharpness they both turned to her and said simultaneously, "No, no; stay." They knew no better than she did why they were so eager to keep her.
"Are you going down-town, Vin ?" Adelaide asked, and her voice shook a little on the question; she was so eager that he should not institute any change in his routine so soon.
"Of course," he answered.
They looked at each other, yet their look said nothing in particular.
Presently he said: "I wonder if I might have breakfast in here.

I'll go and shave if you'll order it; and don't let Mathilde go.

I have something to say to her." When he was gone, Mathilde went and stood at the window, looking out, and tying knots in the window-shade's cord.

It was a trick Adelaide had always objected to, and she was quite surprised to hear herself saying now, just as usual: "Mathilde, don't tie knots in that cord." Mathilde threw it from her as one whose mind was engaged on higher things.
"You know," she observed, "I believe I'm only just beginning to appreciate Mr.Farron.

He's so wise.